After a brief business meeting at which the Nominating Committee’s report for next years officers was given, Commodore Hoffman introduced CBF’s senior naturalist John Page Williams of Annapolis and its Pennsylvania Agricultural representative Lamont Garber of Lancaster.  Williams, an avid fisherman and history buff, has been with CBF for 37 years.  He is also a writer and former editor for Chesapeake Bay Magazine.  Garber, also an outdoorsman, has been with CBF for 25 years, acts as liaison with Pennsylvania’s farm community in development and implementation of CBF’s efforts to improve the quality of Our Bay.

Garber, using PowerPoint, showed us the extent of “Our Bay’s” drainage basin and made the point by showing us a satellite image of the Susquehanna and Chesapeake after the recent drenching from Tropical Storm Lee .  We were given a summary of the results of CBF’s most recent “State of the Bay’ report.  The present “health index” of the Bay is only 31, with 100 representing the status of the waters when the settlers arrived in the 17^th century.  Garber noted that the success of CBF’s efforts to reduce agricultural pollution depended on the passage of a strong farm bill by Congress.  He got many of our members in the audience to contact Senator Casey in support of an appropriate farm bill.

But both speakers emphasized that farm runoff was not the only source of Bay pollution.   Fishing practices, municipal sewage, and automobile exhaust condensate, among others, have a very important influence on the health of the Bay.  The natural gas boom and the “fraking “ of the Marcellus shale, if unregulated, are certain to have significant negative impact in the future.

John Page, with his lilting Tidewater Virginia accent, acquainted us with the natural history of the Bay, emphasizing that it was really just an extension of the Susquehanna River.  He urged us to become familiar with The Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail, of which he has traveled virtually every mile.  (http://www.smithtrail.net/)  He described how the trail was near us no matter where we were on the Bay and that it can be explored in small segments, accessible to both bigger boats and the trailerable.

We were told that CBF is not in favor or regulating pleasure boat grey water discharge, nor are they in favor of increased alcohol content in marine fuels.

In all, it was a very informative and entertaining meeting, and I believe we all came away with a greater appreciation of CBF’s role as well as our own roles in assuring the future health of Our Bay.

Neil Hoffman

This vagabond was not the quiet, sedate trip I had expected.  I don’t want to give the impression that we didn’t have a good time because we did.  This one overnight trip was expected to be a piece of cake.  Caravan to Sandy Point, sail to Annapolis, take a slip overnight, sail back, caravan home- couldn’t be easier we’ve done it many times.  Joe Rutolo and Ray Hemphill on Allegro, and Henry Borneman and myself on Babe vagabonded.  Donna Ferron and John Pittman with Tony and Mary Statjowski on board sailed over from Rock Hall.  Conrad and Barb Vanino with grandson Joey drove down to join us Saturday night. 

Mother Nature started the turmoil by bringing in a weekend of off again, on again showers.  This actually added to the interest because we scratched Sandy Point electing to put in at Truxton Park boat ramp on Spa Creek in Eastport.  This would eliminate the longer sail to Sandy Point in the event of really bad weather.  This added to the adventure as we had never used the Truxton facility and we had to raise the Spa Creek bridge to get to the marina on the lower side of Eastport.  The two ramps were excellent but parking is 100 yards away and the road to it is covered with low hanging branches.  We had to setup next to the ramp.  Otherwise we would recommend it.

The trip down was delayed a little when Joe did his thing- blowing a trailer tire on 695 around Baltimore.  He was prepared since he was carrying two spares!  Four guys made quick work of the tire change finishing the trip uneventfully.  We sailed out on the Bay under threatening clouds.  The sky opened up thoroughly drenching us from the waist down- no time for the bottom slickers.  We sailed into our slips at Eastport Yacht Center just off the Bay under clouds but no rain.  A picnic area with tables, chairs, and umbrellas was located adjacent to our slips making a handy cocktail hour venue.  The next rain shower held off until after we had finished, stowed our gear, and put up our rain canopy.  A half hour later we walked two blocks to have dinner outside at Davis’ Pub.  Good food, good drinks, and friendly folks socializing outside.  We then walked into Annapolis to lounge on the wall along Ego Alley to people and boat watch and, of course, to eat ice cream!  Ask Barb how it feels to have a double dip melt away in your hand!

Our walk back to the slips in the dark led by Ray was a hoot.  We knew we were by the water on Second Street but a “short cut” suggested by a passerby resulted in an obstacle course.  Climbing over a seawall we had to cross the extensive lawn of a seaside mansion brightly lit with people inside, cut through their landscaping and drop over a wall onto the street.  It’s a wonder they didn’t sic the dogs on these “intruders”!  We actually thumbed a ride back to the marina.  After more seaside chat we retired for the night.  The next downpour started at 1:30 but we were able to enjoy it from the comfort of our sleeping bags.  Sunday dawned with more clouds but no rain.  We walked to a nearby restaurant for a leisurely breakfast.  We bid the folks on Halcyon a fair sail back to Rock Hall and headed out to the Bay.  Our sail was again shortened by threatening clouds converging on us so we hustled back in to catch the next bridge opening.  Mother Nature was just toying with us as her rain held off until we were at the ramp, knocked down, in ready to drive home condition, and having our lunch under the pavilion at the park.

In thinking back about the many vagabonds I have participated in, I can truly say I have enjoyed them all.  Each have had a little twist to them, the weather not always perfect, meeting new people, an obstacle now and then, but feeling good that the experience gained on each trip stands us in good stead on the next adventure.

Tom Stoner

Editor’s Note:  At this time it appears we will have at least three boats.

Florida’s beautiful spring weather enticed us to cruise
Instead of watch TV or perhaps take a snooze.
Saturday was beautiful, and the wind pushed us true.
We anchored in Pelican Bay to decide what to do.
After a snack for a late lunch and a short dinghy ride
We paid our park fee and rode to the other side.
We chatted with the volunteer who drove the golf cart.
Our weekend was off to an extremely fine, happy start!
Walking on the sand, talking, and picking shells
We soaked in the sights and breathed in the smells.

Later, we had dinner aboard and each read a book.
There were thirty boats anchored if anyone cared to look.
Finally, my hopes were realized though they weren’t too grand.
We each went walking on the entrance spit of sand.
Back to Paloma for a shower on the boat.
The wind blew the whole night, but we were safely afloat.

At nine Sunday morning we hauled anchor for the day.
We heard rumors of showers, but we were early on our way.
Out over Boca Grande the sky looked quite black,
But with the time that was forecast we were sure to be back.
Eileen said, “I don’t like the color of those clouds.”
They were the shade of sad, purple, funeral shrouds!

Pressing on seemed quite logical and a safe thing to do.
Most clouds pass on by, and then the sun shines anew.
This time events were different, and what do you know?
A severe weather warning blared out of Paloma’s radio!
A water spout was reported off Gasparilla Island the voice said,
And direct to a safe harbor is where boaters should head!

We glanced over the stern and then past the bow.
Turning back to the anchorage seemed a bit futile now.
The wind hit us hard, and the rain came in a gush.
We had each donned our wet gear and PFDs in a rush.
Keep making progress and stay off Jug Creek Sand Bar.
The motor kept on churning, but we didn’t get very far.
As the waves built to five feet and then on beyond
We felt like a toy boat in a bathtub or in a fish pond!
‘The wind was just howling’ is easy to say.
Its speed went past fifty and kept blowing away!
The peak speed recorded was sixty plus two.
Faith in God and our sailboat was the best we could do.

At just that very minute a bad smell hit my nose.
I checked in my pants, but it wasn’t in my clothes!
Paloma was heeled to the side by the wave’s push and pull.
Her good cooling system was no longer being kept full.

We think that the impeller had begun to run dry,
And that little rubber spinner had started to fry!
Throttle pushed to max helped bring her bow through the wind.
The smell soon subsided, and we each carefully grinned.
The Garmin still showed us to be near the dread shoal,
And the wind stayed above forty as it made the waves roll!
With no land for reference and rain pelting our eyes
We heard radio calls for Boat US and the Coast Guard Rescue Guys!

To get turned about in a storm that is raging
Is a thought that certainly isn’t very engaging.
Off to our port side we saw Boca Grande Pass loom.
At least we had deep water and plenty of room.
As the wind settled back to thirty and just a bit more
We headed our boat toward far off Burnt Store.
At some point in the passage we thought of the dinghy towed on the cleat
It had been twisted twenty times!  Now, that is some feat!
While being pulled with its bottom facing up to the rain
It could not fill with water which would have been a great pain.
Progress was slow, and we bobbed up and down.
The looks on our faces were a serious, long frown.
We each fought off the feeling of becoming quite sick
Because “tossing our cookies” wouldn’t help us a lick!

Finally, passing marker “99” was a great milestone.
We began to see other boats, but the sun had not yet shown.
When our course put us inside the sand bar at Jug Creek
We felt we were safe, but we also felt a little bit meek.
Through wind driven rain with lightning crashing about
We relied on Paloma, in that there’s no doubt.

We realized that Seamanship depends very much on one’s ship.
If anyone “disses” Paloma we’ll give them a fat lip!
Our O’Day has passed thirty; some say, “Long in the tooth.”
We say she is a trusty girl, and that is the truth!